Autism and The Neuroverse

What if the greatest transformation for your child begins with transforming the way you see yourself? Alta welcomes Jennifer Swann—former constitutional lawyer, TEDx speaker, founder of the Peace, Power & Possibility Institute, and mother of two children with complex needs. Jennifer shares how parenting her son with autism and her daughter with a rare neuromuscular condition completely reshape...

When a child refuses, argues, melts down, or pushes back, what are they really trying to communicate? In episode 76 of Autism in the Neuroverse , Alta sits down with Board Certified Behavior Analyst Heather Traeden of Balance & Behavior to discuss what challenging behaviors can teach us about a child's needs, emotions, and sense of safety. Drawing from over 25 years of experience working w...

What if the most powerful tool for helping neurodivergent children isn't a therapy technique, behavior plan, or intervention strategy? According to Dr. Park, it's the relationship. In episode 75 of Autism and the Neuroverse , Dr. Park shares the "Four C's"—a simple but powerful framework for building trust, connection, and lasting growth with neurodivergent children. Drawing...

Autism in girls often looks different than the traditional picture many parents and professionals expect. As a result, countless girls go undiagnosed—or are misdiagnosed with anxiety, depression, ADHD, or other mental health conditions before receiving answers that truly fit. In episode 74 of Autism and the Neuroverse , Alta sits down with licensed psychologist Dr. Christina Feldman, founder of Ne...

What does it actually look like to create a home environment that supports a neurodivergent child—not just in theory, but in the realities of everyday life? In episode 73 of Autism and the Neuroverse , Alta sits down with licensed clinical social worker and behavior specialist Brynn Bell to explore how families can create more structure, predictability, emotional safety, and connection at home. Br...

What does autism look like in its earliest stages—and what role do pediatricians play in helping families navigate the diagnostic journey? In this episode of Autism and the Neuroverse , Alta sits down with board-certified pediatrician Dr. Kristen Cook, founder of MomDocTalk , to discuss the realities of autism screening, diagnosis, and early intervention from a pediatrician’s perspective. Dr. Cook...

Selective mutism is often misunderstood as shyness—but in reality, it’s a complex anxiety disorder that can deeply impact a child’s ability to communicate. In episode 70 of Autism in the Neuroverse , Alta sits down with licensed clinical social worker Heidi Applonie, a leading specialist in selective mutism. Drawing from both professional experience and her personal journey as a parent, Heidi shar...

In this powerful live presentation, Dr. Brandon Park breaks down autism through a lens that challenges traditional thinking—framing it not as a deficit, but as a different operating system navigating a world it wasn’t built for . From the concept of the brain as a prediction machine to the emotional toll of feeling misunderstood, Dr. Park offers a deeply human perspective on what autistic individu...

In Part 2 of this series, Dr. Park and Alta continue their conversation on relationships and boundaries—this time focusing on safety and how it shapes connection. They explore the many layers of safety in relationships, including physical, emotional, psychological, and social safety, as well as the often-overlooked impact of rejection . Dr. Park explains why rejection can feel so deeply painful an...

In episode #59 of Autism and the Neuroverse , Alta and Dr. Park sit down with Andrew , a student at New Focus Academy, to talk about what it’s really like to struggle in school, feel disconnected at home, and slowly lose hope — and what it takes to rebuild from that place. Andrew shares how things began to spiral in public school: slipping grades, conflict at home, and habits that felt impossible...

In Part 1 of this two-part series, Dr. Park and Alta explore why relationships can feel especially complex for neurodivergent individuals—and how we can better support that journey. They break down the idea of different “social operating systems,” explaining why unspoken social rules can be difficult to interpret and why relationships often feel confusing or overwhelming. This episode introduces p...

In episode #67 of Autism and the Neuroverse , Alta is joined by the team at Dog Training Elite, along with a parent navigating the journey of training a service dog for her son with autism. Together, they break down what it really takes to train a service dog—from temperament testing and task work to the often-overlooked reality: the handler and family must be trained just as much as the dog. This...

In episode #66 of Autism and the Neuroverse , Alta sits down with Devin Brown from 4 Paws for Ability , a nonprofit dedicated to breeding, raising, and training service dogs for children and veterans with disabilities. Devin shares how service dogs are carefully matched and trained to support a wide range of needs—including autism, anxiety, medical alert, and mobility. From early puppy socializati...

In this episode of Autism and the Neuroverse , Alta sits down with Vicki Christensen , special education advocate and author of Uniquely, Fully Enough: The Neurodivergent Parenting Journey . Vicki shares her personal journey raising her son with a rare chromosome disorder—from the uncertainty of diagnosis to navigating therapies, IEPs, and the emotional realities of parenting a neurodivergent chil...

What happens when you already know the special education system—but advocacy stillfeels overwhelming? In this episode, we speak directly to experienced parents of children with autism—those who know IEPs, FAPE, and IDEA, and may already be working with advocates, consultants, or attorneys. Drawing from Wrightslaw: From Emotions to Advocacy, we focus on the strategic side of advocacy: how to move f...

Considering residential treatment can feel overwhelming, emotional, and deeply personal. Alta sits down with New Focus Academy and Life Focused Transitions Admissions Director, Janelle Ayala, to walk parents through what the admissions process actually looks like — from that first phone call to enrollment day. They discuss who New Focus and LiFT serve, how individualized care is determined, what d...

In this episode of Autism and the Neuroverse , Alta sits down with Winslow Morrell , Clinical Director of the LiFT Program at New Focus Academy, to explore what the transition into adulthood really looks like for neurodivergent young adults. Winslow explains why independence for neurodivergent individuals is rarely linear, how anxiety, rejection sensitivity, and fear of failure can create paralysi...

In this episode of Autism and the Neuroverse , Alta sits down with Amanda Baker , Operations Director at New Focus Academy, to break down the ABCs of de-escalation and how understanding the limbic system can completely change the way we respond to escalating behavior. Amanda explains how the ABC model helps identify the activating event , the belief behind the event , and the consequential emotion...

In episode #60 of Autism and the Neuroverse , Alta and Dr. Park sit down with Tim McMahon , founder and executive director of BrightStone Transitions , to talk about one of the biggest questions families face: How do we help neurodivergent teens transition into adulthood? Tim shares why so many young adults reach adulthood without the real-world skills they need—not because they can’t learn, but b...

In episode #58 of Autism and the Neuroverse , Alta speaks with Bart Morrill and Dale Robinson from Spanish Fork Parks and Recreation about the vision behind their inclusive, adaptive playground designed to serve families of all abilities. Bart and Dale share how listening to families in the disability community reshaped their approach to park design — creating a space where children no longer need...

In episode 57, Dr. Neil Christensen joins Dr. Park and Alta to break down why neurodivergent teens—especially autistic and ADHD youth—are significantly more vulnerable to digital media overuse . Drawing from decades in wilderness therapy and his Disconnect to Reconnect study, Neil explains the neurological, social, and emotional factors that pull teens toward excessive gaming, social media, and on...

In this final installment of the Predictive Process series, Dr. Park breaks down the crucial last phase: generalizing fluency and building predictive autonomy . Many autistic and neurodivergent young people face constant predictive gaps —moments when the world doesn’t match what they expect. These gaps trigger overwhelm, anxiety, shutdowns, or rigid coping strategies. Dr. Park explains how parents...

Today, Alta sits down with Lauren Sharifi, MPH, RD, LDN , a leading dietitian specializing in ARFID (Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder), to unpack one of the most misunderstood eating challenges faced by autistic and neurodivergent individuals. Lauren explains what ARFID is — and is not — highlighting the differences from anorexia, the impact of sensory sensitivities, and how trauma, anxie...

In episode #54 of Autism and the Neuroverse , Alta talks with Mark Cheminant , ADA Coordinator for the Salt Lake City International Airport , about transforming air travel into an inclusive and supportive experience for every passenger. Mark shares how his team implemented sensory rooms , adaptive training , the Sunflower Program , and social stories to support neurodiverse travelers. From pre-fli...

In episode #53 of Autism and the Neuroverse , Alta sits down with Hilary Pham , founder and CEO of Equability , a company that transforms existing clothing into adaptive, accessible fashion. Hilary shares how watching her mother struggle with arthritis inspired her to create solutions that make everyday clothes easier to wear — without sacrificing personal style. From adding magnets to buttons and...